Double black (extreme) Big Sky, MT
Obsidian drops 491 vertical feet over 1,065 feet of skiing, with a steepest pitch of 43° about 100 feet below the top. That's steeper than 85% of the 2,251 double black runs we've measured in North America, and the 26th steepest of 290 named runs at Big Sky. It faces northeast.
Facing northeast at an average 28°, Obsidian gets about 62% of the winter sun that flat ground at Big Sky does, December through March. That's shadier than 82% of the runs we've measured, and the 47th shadiest named run at Big Sky. Its top sits at 9,170 feet.
Shaded snow stays colder and drier, so it holds powder longer after a storm and is slower to crust over or turn to slush in spring. Shading from ridges and trees isn't counted yet.
under 25°25–35°35–45°45°+ Hover to follow the line on the map.
Measured by ZRankings from 1-meter USGS lidar. Steepest pitch is the steepest stretch of about 50 vertical feet along the skiable line. Run lines come from OpenStreetMap and can sit a little off the skied path.